Clutch for subsurface well tools



March 24, 1959 R. c. BAKER 2,878,873

CLUTCHFOR SUBSURFACE WELL TOOLS Filed Jan. 20, 1956 1a H 64 D 1...?

39a 28a 5% 35a 340 15 94 JNVENTOR. fizz/50v 6. 34mm M M W United States PatentO v 7 2,878,878 I CLUTCH FOR 'SUIBSURFACE WELL TOOLS Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, CaliL, a corporation of California Application January 20, 1956, Serial No. 560,331 10 Claims. (Cl. 166-237) The present invention relates to subsurface well tools,

and more particularly to lock or clutch devices for selectively preventing or permitting relative longitudinal movement between certain parts of the well tools. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved clutch device for controlling relative longitudinal movement between parts of a subsurface well tool, in which such relative movement can be prevented in both longitudinal directions, or be allowed to occur in both longitudinal directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch device for controlling relative longitudinal movement between parts of a subsurface well tool, in which the placing of the clutch in one condition causes it to release automatically upon relative longitudinal movement in both directions between the parts, the placing of the clutch in another condition preventing longitudinal movement between the parts in both directions.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of the form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an apparatus embodying the invention disposed in a well casing, with the clutch in a released condition;

Fig. 2 is an isometric projection of the clutch portion of the apparatus itself, jparts being shown in section, the clutch being in essentially the same position as in Fig. l.

The apparatus disclosed in the'drawings is a tubing anchor A, which is lowered in a string of well casing B by means of a tubular string of tubing or drill pipe C extending to the'topr of the hole. The ability of parts of 'thejtubing anchor tobe'expanded outwardly into anchoring engagement. with' the well casing depends upon a clutch device D embodied in the apparatus.

The invention will be described with particular reference to the tubing anchor disclosed, but it is to be understood that such description is merely illustrative of the invention, in that the clutch device could be used for controlling the relative longitudinal movement between parts of other subsurface well tools.

As specifically shown, the well tool A includes a central body 10 having a lower expander 11 secured thereto, this expander having an outer expander surface 12 in clined in an upward and inward direction for coaction with companion tapered surfaces 13 on a plurality of lowerscircumferentially spaced slip members 14 that are carried within a lower slip sleeve 15 separate from and adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the body of the tool. The lower slip members 14 have anchoring 2 grip the casing, the lower slips coacting with the lower expander 11 to anchor the well tool to the casing against upward movement therewithin. p

The upper end of the body 10 is threadedly secured to an upper expander 18 which has an expander surface 19 inclined in a downward and inward direction for coaction with companion tapered surfaces 20 on a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper slip memberszl, which are carried in an upper slip sleeve 22 slidably mounted on the body of the tool. The upper slip members have anchoring portions 23 provided with external wickers or teeth 24 adapted to dig into the wall of the well casing, the upper slips coacting with the upper expander 18 to prevent downward movement of the well tool within the well casing.

The upper expander 18 is threadedly attached to the lower end of the tubular string C, that extends to the top of the well bore. The apparatus is moved longitudinally within the well casing as a result of the'longitudina'l movement of the tubing string. If desired, the body 10 of the apparatus can bemade tubular and have a fully open passage 25 therethrough of a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the tubular string C, in order that fluid can pass in either direction through the tubular string and the tubular body of the tool.

The upper slip members 21 are disposed in circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 26 in the upper slip sleeve 22. In addition to its anchoring portion 23, each slip member 21 has a friction drag portion 27 below the anchoring portion adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well casing B. The necessary friction beportions 16 provided'with external wickets 17 adapted to tween the drag portion 27 and the wall of the well casing is supplied by a helical spring 28 engaging the base of the slot 26 in the slip sleeve 22 containing the slip member, and also engaging the base of a socket 29 formed in the friction drag portion, the line of force or action of the spring 28 being below the upper or fulcrum end 30 of the friction drag portion 27.

Outward movement of the slip members 21 under the action of their compression springs 28 is limited by engagement of the lower foot portions 31 of the slip members with an upwardly extending stop rim or flange 32 at the upper portion of a clutch sleeve or housing 33 encompassing the body of the tool. Such outward movement is also limited by a coupling or stop ring 34 encompassing the slip members and disposed within external grooves 35 formed in the slip members 21 between their anchoring and drag portions 23, 27, the base of such grooves being engageable with the ring 34. Joint longitudinal movement of the upper slip members 21 with the upper slip ring 22 is provided by the engagement of the coupling or stop ring 34 with an upper flange 36 extending outwardly from the upper slip sleeve 22. Suchgflahge will engage the coupling ring 34, which will, in turnfehgage the lower sides of the slip grooves 35, to carry the slips 21 in a downward direction within the well casing'B with the upper slip sleeve 22. Joint upward movement of the slips 21 with the slip sleeve 22 will occur as a result of the engagement of the clutch sleeve 33 with the foot portions 31 of the slip members.

The lower set of slip members 14 and the low slip sleeve 15 can be identical to the upper slip members 21 and upper slip sleeve 22, the parts merely being reversely arranged with respect to the upper slip sleeve and upper slip members. Accordingly, the same reference numerals have been applied to the lower slip sleeve and lower slip members as the upper slip structure, with the suflix a added thereto. The lower slip sleeve 15 abuts the lower portion 40 of the clutch sleeve structure 33, the upper end of this lower portion engaging the lower end of the upper clutch sleeve portion 41. The upper slip sleeve 22 is secured to the upper clutch sleeve portion 41' by a plurality of longitudinally extending screws 42, Whereas the lower slip sleeve 15, lower clutch sleeve portions 40, and upper clutch sleeve 41 are secured to one another and to the upper clutch sleeve portion by a plurality of longitudinally extending screws 43. By virtue of the assembled relation just described, the upper slip sleeve 22, upper and lower portions 41, 40 of the clutch sleeve structure 33, and the lower slip sleeve 15 are secured to one another for joint longitudinal movement relative to the body of the tool and the upper and lower expanders 18, 11.

The upper and lower slip members 21, 14 may occupy an intermediate or neutral position with respect to the upper and lower expanders 18, 11, and may be held in this position by coupling or clutching the clutch sleeve structure 33 to the body '10 of the tool, so that the latter is prevented from moving longitudinally in both directions with respect to the parts surrounding it. With the clutch D in a coupling condition, the upper and lower slip members 21, 14 cannot be expanded outwardly against the well casing B as a result of longitudinal movement of the body of the tool and the upper and lower expanders. However, should the clutch be released, the tubular string C, body 10 and expanders 11, 18 can be moved in a downward direction, the friction drag portions 27, 27a on the upper and lower sets of slips resisting their downward movement by virtue of their frictional engagement with the well casing. As a result, the upper expander 18 can be moved downwardly into the upper slip members 21, whose casing anchoring portions 23 are normally disposed inwardly away from the casing wall by the action of the springs 28 on the drag block portions 27 holding the latter in lengthwise frictional engagement with the casing. When the upper expander 18 moves downwithin the anchoring portions 23 of the upper slips, it rocks the anchoring portions outwardly about the upper ends 30 of the drag block portions as a fulcrum bearing against the casing. and against the force of the compression springs 28, the upper expander 18 wedging within the upper anchoring portions 23 and expanding them outwardly until their wickers 24 embed in the casing, which will anchor the well tool against downward movement in the well casing. The friction drag and foot portions 27, 31 of the upper slips 21 merely rock inwardly about the fulcrums 30 as pivot points, to assume an inclined condition.

Instead of expanding the upper slip members 21 into anchoring engagement with the casing, the lower slip members 14 can be expanded outwardly by moving the tubular string C upwardly, which will move the body 10 and expanders 11, 18 in an upward direction, the lower expander 11 moving within the anchoring portions 16 of the lower slip members to rock such portions and their wickers 17 outwardly into firm engagement with the well casing, by virtue of the fulcruming of the lower ends 30:; of the drag portions 27a on the wall of the well casing. The remainder of the drag portions and the foot portions 31a of the. slip members move inwardly with respect to the well casing against the force of the helical springs 28a. The well tool A is thereby anchored to the well casing B against upward movement therewithin.

As was stated above, the ability of the body 10 and upper and lower expanders 18, 11 to be moved longitudinally with respect to the slip structures surrounding the body is dependent upon the condition of the clutch D, which can couple the tubular body 10 to the slip .structures, or allow the tubular body to move longitudinally with respect to the slip structures. This clutch includes the outer clutch sleeve structure or housing 33 previously referred to, which has an upper internal frusto-conical surface 50 tapering in an upward and inward direction,

and also a lower internal frusto-conical surface 51 tapering in a downward and inward direction, these conical surfaces being interconnected by an internal intermediate cylindrical surface 52. The surfaces just referred to de- Li 7 fine a space with the periphery of the body 10 of the tool, in which a longitudinally split ratchet ring 53 is located. This ratchet ring has upper and lower inclined or frustoconical surfaces 54, 55 companion to the upper and lower internal surfaces 50, 51 in the clutch sleeve 33, as well as an intervening external cylindrical surface 56 opposite the internal cylindrical surface 52 of the clutch sleeve. The ratchet ring 53 also has a plurality of ratchet teeth 57 adapted to engage companion ratchet teeth 58 on the periphery of the body. These ratchet teeth are preferably formed as thread-like members of the same pitch for economy of production, and the threads are V-shaped, in order that relative longitudinal movement of the body 19 with respect to the sleeve 33 in both directions tends to cam the ratchet ring thread 57 out of engagement with the body thread 58, the longitudinal slot or split 60 through the ring permitting expansion and contraction of the latter. Actually, the ring 53 inherently tends to contract, so that its threads or teeth 57 mesh fully with the companion threads orteeth 58 on the body. When the threads are fully engaged, there is a substantial clearance space 61 between the periphery of the ratchet ring 53 and the cam and cylindrical surfaces 50, 51, 52 of the clutch sleeve structure 33 sufiicient to allow the threads 58 on the body to cam the ratchet sleeve 53 outwardly to secure disengagement between the threaded portions of the body 10 and the ratchet ring 53.

The camming action just referred to can occur when the ratchet ring 53 is held in a neutral or central position with respect to the cam surfaces 50, 51 of the clutch sleeve 33, being prevented from moving longitudinally with respect to said surfaces. Normally, the ratchet ring 53 tends to move longitudinally with the body 10, inasmuch as the ring inherently tends to contract against the body. The ratchet ring, when permitted to do so, can move upwardly with the body, causing its upper inclined surface 54 to engage the companion inclined surface 50 of the clutch sleeve and positively couple the body 10 and the clutch sleeve 33 together against upward movement. Similarly, downward movement of the body tends to carry the ratchet ring downwardly with it, causing its lower inclined surface 55 to wedge against the companion lower cam surface 51 of the clutch sleeve, and thereby couple the body to the clutch sleeve. It is when the longitudinal movement of the ratchet ring 53 with the body 10 is resisted that the camming action of theinterengaging threads 57, 58 comes into action, to allow expansion of the ratchet ring out of engagement from the body threads 58, thereby permitting the body to move longitudinally with respect to the clutch sleeve 33.

The prevention of the ratchet ring from moving longi tudinally with the body with respect to the clutch sleeve depends upon the relative position of. a pin. or screw 70, extending transversely of the clutch sleeve 33, with respect to a slotted arrangement 71 in the ratchet ring 53. As specifically disclosed, the screw is threaded into the upper clutch sleeve portion 41, with its head 72 received within a 'counterbore 73 in the sleeve. The inner portion 74 of the screw extends inwardly into the confines of the ratchet ring 53. Thus, the screw may be disposed within a horizontal or transverse slot 75 of the ratchet ring, which is only slightly wider than the diameter of the screw, this slot extending almost completely around the ratchet ring. One end of the slot 75' is closed by a wall 76 on the ring adjacent its longitudinal split or slot portion 60, whereas the other end portion 77 of the transverse slot, which is preferably located in the cylindrical part of the ratchet ring, has walls 78 that diverge and open into the longitudinal slot 60 extending completely through the ratchet ring. The longitudinal slot 60 has a width slightly greater than the diameter of the screw part 74, so as to permit relative longitudinal movement of the screw in such slot 60.

When the pin 70 is disposed in the transverse slot portion 75 of the ratchet ring, any substantial longitudinal movement of the ratchet ring53 relativeto the'"'clutch sleeve 33 is prevented, the ratchet ring being' incapable of wedging in either an upward or a downward direction within the clutch sleeve 33. When in this position, the ratchet ring 53 is held in a neutral or ineffective position, in order that longitudinal movement of the body of the tool can occur relative to the slip structures, the threads 58 of the body merely expanding the ratchet ring 53 to the extent sufiicient to allow the body to ratchet freely therethrough. However, if the pin 70is disposed within the longitudinal slot portion 60 of the ratchet ring, then the latter will move with the body and either be wedged by the body against the upper cam surface 50 of the sleeve 33, when the body is moved upwardly, or against the lower cam surface 51 of the clutch sleeve, if the body is moved in a downward direction, to effectively clutch the body 10 to the clutch sleeve '33, preventing relative longitudinal movement therebetween in both directions.

It will be noted that the friction drag portions 27, 27a of the upper and lower slips 21, 14 resist longitudinal movement of the clutch sleeve33, and that the ratchet ring 53 tends to move both longitudinally and rotationally with the body 10. Accordingly, the tubular string C and the body 10 connected thereto are appropriately manipulated to locate the difference portions 71, 60 of the ratchet ring slot 71 with respect to the clutch pin 70. In the position disclosed in the drawings, the pin 70 is located in the transverse or locking portion 75 of the slot, which holds the clutch in a disengaged condition, preventing relative longitudinal movement between the ratchet ring 53 and the clutch sleeve 33, thereby allowing the body 10 to move longitudinally in both directions relative 'to the clutch sleeve, since it iscapable of freely ratcheting through the clutch ring 53.

When it is desired to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the body 10 and the clutch sleeve 33, the body is turned in the proper direction, as to the left, which will turn the ratchet ring 53 with it, since the latter tends to grip the body, the pin 70 moving relatively in the transverse slot 75 until it exits from that slot and is disposed within the longitudinal or vertical slot 60, which location ispositively determined by engagement of the pin with the wall 80 of the slot opposite the open end 77 of the transverse slot. When the pin 70 is disposed in the vertical slot portion 60, the ratchet ring 53 is permitted to move with the body 10 free from restraint by the pin 70 and the clutch sleeve 33. Accordingly, upward movement of the body 10 will then carry the ratchet ring 53 upwardly, to cause it to be wedged between the upper cam surface 50 and the body 10; whereas downward movement of the body 10 will cause the ratchet ring 53 to move with it into wedging engagement with and between the lower cam surface 51 and the body 10.

In the eventit is desired to shift the ratchet ring 53 back toa neutral position, the body 10 is shifted longitudinally appropriately, which actually only requires a relatively slight movement, the body being rotated in a right-hand direction, which will carry the ratchet ring 53 with it, the pin 70 then being guided by the diverging sides 78 at the entrance 77 to the transverse slot 75 into the latter. Rotation to the right of the body 10 and the ring 53 can occurto the extent limited by engagement of the end wall 76 closing the transverse slot with the pin 70. The ratchet ring 53 is now in the position in which it cannot move with respect to the clutch sleeve 33, which is a clutch releasing condition that permits the body 10 to move longitudinally in both directions with respect to the clutch sleeve 33.

In the operation of the clutch device D is association with the specific tool disclosed in the drawings, the upper and lower sets of slips 21, 14 are placed in "a neutral position with respect to the upper and lower expanders 18, 11, the clutch pin 70 being disposed in the longitudinal slot or split60 of the ratchet ring. The tool A is then lowered in the well casing by means of the tubular'string'C. The slips 21, 14 are maintained in their neutral position, inasmuch as the ratchet ring 53 will be forced by the body 10 into wedging engagement with the lower inclined cam surface 51 of the clutch sleeve 33, coupling the entire slip structure to the body 10, and causing it to move downwardly with the body, the friction drag portions 27, 27a merely sliding along the wall of the well casing B, 'with the anchoring portions 23, 16 of the upper and lower sets of slips tilted inwardly free from engagement with the well casing. When the region in the well-casing is reached at which the tool is to be anchored, the tubular string C and the body 10 are turned to the right, which will shift the pin 70 relatively into the transverse portion 75 of the slot, the ratchet ring 53 then being in a neutral position with respect to the clutch sleeve 33. Thereafter, if the lower slips 14 are to be anchored against the casing, it is only necessary to move the tubular string C, expanders 18, 11 and body 10 upwardly, the slip structures and clutch sleeve 33 being prevented from moving longitudinally by the drag block portions 27, 27a of the slip members. The body threads 58 cam the ratchet ring 53 out of engagement therewith, the body 10 actually ratcheting freely upwardly through the sleeve 53, until the lower expander 11 wedges into the lower sets of slips 14 and anchors them firmly against the well casing.

Instead of anchoring the tool against upward movement in the well casing, if it is desired to anchor it against downward movement therewithin, it is merely necessary to lower the tubular string C, expanders 18, 11 and body 10, the pin 70 being still disposed in the transverse slot 75 of the ratchet ring, preventing downward movement of the latter with respect to the clutch sleeve 33, the body ratcheting freely through the ring 53 until the upper expander 18 expands the upper slip members 21 into anchoring engagement with the well casing. I

If it is desired to remove the apparatus from the well casing, then the body 10 can be elevated, or otherwise shifted, until the slip members 21, 14 are again in a neutral or central position with respect to the upper and lower expanders 18, 11, and the tubular string C and body 10 rotated to the left, to carry the ratchet ring 53 around with the body in the left-hand direction until the pin 70 extending inwardly of the clutch sleeve is again disposed in the longitudinal slot or split 60 of the ratchet ring 53. When this occurs, upward movement of the tubular string C and body 10 will carry the ratchet ring 53 upwardly and cause it to wedge against the upper cam surface 50 of the clutch sleeve 33, which then positively couples the body to the clutch sleeve, as well as coupling the upper and lower slips 21, 14 to the body 10 and preventing relative longitudinal movement between the body 10 and expanders 18, 11, on the one hand, and the slip members 21, 14, on the other hand. The tubular string C and body 10 can now be elevated in the well casing B to the extent desired, the slip structures moving upwardly therewithin, with the slips remaining in their neutral location with respect to the upper and lower expanders.

If desired, the tubular string C and the tool A can be elevated completely in the well casing B and removed therefrom at the top of the hole.

The inventor claims:

1. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible ring between said members; said ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring and said one member having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching en- .gagement with the other of said members upon longi' tudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said one member; and means on said one member engageable with said ring for preventing relative movement of said ring in both directions relative to said one member and releasable from said ring to permit relative movement of said ring with respect to said one member.

2. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said members; said clutch ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered clutch teeth; said clutch ring and the other of said members having coengageable taperedsurfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said one member upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said other member to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; said ring and said other member having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said one member upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said other member to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; and means on said other member engageable with said ring to prevent relative longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions to permit said one member to move longitudinally in both directions relative to said ring and releasable from said ring to permit relative longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions to prevent said one member from moving longitudinally in both directions relative to said ring.

3. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing surrounding said body; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said body and housing; said clutch ring and housing having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said housing; said clutch ring and housing having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said housing; and means on said housing engageable with said ring for preventing longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions with respect to said housing and releasable from said ring to permit relative longitudinal movement of said ring with respect to said housing.

4. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing surrounding said 'body; an expansible and contractible clutch ring betweensaid body and housing; said clutch ring and body having coengageable tapered clutch teeth; said clutch ring and housing having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said body upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said housing to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; said clutch ring and housing having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said body upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said housing to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; and means on said housing engageable with said ring to prevent longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions relative to said housing to permit said body to move longitudinally in both directions relative to said ring and releasable from said ring to permit relative longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions with respect to said housing to prevent said body from moving longitudinally in both directions relative to said ring.

5. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible ring between said members; said ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; saidring and said one member having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said one member; and means on said one member engageable with said ring for preventing relative movement of said ring in both directions relative to said one member to permit longitudinal movement of said other member relative to said ring and housing; said ring being shiftable by said other of said members to a. position of disengagement with said means permitting said ring to move longitudinally relative to said one member into clutching engagement with both of said members. 7 6. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing surrounding said body; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said body and housing; said clutch ring and housing having coengageable tapered surfaces for forc ing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said housing; said clutch ring and housing having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said housing; and means on said housing engageable with said ring for preventing longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions with respect to said housing to permit longitudinal movement of said body relative to said ring and housing; said ring being shiftable by said body to a position of disengagement with said means permitting said ring to move longitudinally relative to said housing into clutching engagement with said body andv housing.

7. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible ring between said members; said ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring and said one member having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring and one member having a companion pin and slot structure for selectively preventing or permitting relative longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions relative to said one member.

8. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansibie and contractible ring between said members; said ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal move ment in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring and said one member having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members Upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring having a transverse slot merging into a longitudinal slot; and

said one member having a pin adapted to be movable in said transverse and longitudinal slots for selectively preventing or permitting relative longitudinal movement of said ring in both directions with respect to said one member.

9. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing surrounding said body; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said body and housing; said clutch ring and housing having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said housing; said clutch ring and housing having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with said body upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said housing; said ring having a transverse slot merging into a longitudinal slot; and said housing having a pin positionable in said transverse and longitudinal slots for selectively preventing or permitting longitudinal movement of said ring relative to said housing.

10. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing surrounding said body; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said body and housing; said clutch ring and body having coengageable tapered clutch teeth; said clutch ring and housing having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said body upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said housing to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; said clutch ring and housing having other coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring laterally toward said body upon longitudinal movement in the opposite direction of said ring relative to said housing to hold said clutch teeth coengaged; said ring having a transverse slot and a longitudinal slot merging into said transverse slot; and said housing having a pin positionable in said slots; rotation of said body shifting said ring therewith and relatively moving said pin between said transverse slot and said longitudinal slot; said pin being disposable in said transverse slot to prevent longitudinal movement of said ring relative to said housing to permit said body to move longitudinally in both directions relative to said ring; the location of said pin in said longitudinal slot permitting said body to shift said ring longitudinally in both directions to wedge said ring between said housing and body and prevent relative movement therebetween in both longitudinal directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,031,637 Fischer July 2, 1912 2,368,401 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 2,400,970 Baker May 28, 1946 2,429,910 Anderson et al Oct. 28, 1947 2,627,316 Baker Feb. 3, 1953 2,633,917 Baker et a1. Apr. 7, 1953 2,671,513 Clark Mar. 9, 1954 

